Friday, June 21, 2013

Buying A Dutch Bicycle In Calgary

By Tom Tuttle


I am looking for a Dutch bike in Calgary, I had some major snags finding a shop that has any experience in anything besides mountain bikes and road bicycles. With Dutch bicycles picking up in popularity this was annoying, however the shops in the city appear more focused on moving tonnes of units instead of serving specialty market stuff. I turned to the web and Google to begin my hunt instead.

I want a Dutch Bike so I don't have to climb on my road bike or mountain bike for an easy peddle around town. This seems to be the market they are going after and have really filled the niche. For making a quick trip to the store, the relaxed riding style, upright positioning and comfortable seat looks like the perfect bike for me.

The first bike that really caught interest is a Brooklyn Cruiser single speed called the Bedford. Contemplating the way I am going utilize the Dutch bike along with the sort of riding that I need to be ready to do using it, I am thinking the single speed Dutchie would be all that I need.

Brooklyn Cruiser describes it as a free spirited rig for hitting the bike paths, great for riding to work and getting things done around town. It also mentions all the all the things that I am looking for in my next bike, squishy tires, a suspended seat and just all around comfort.

That really is all that I am looking for, the appeal of big curved handle bars and tires that don't pick up every crack in the road. I have a few bikes but none of them could be described that way.

The Linus Roadster Classic is the other Dutch style bike that I really like. It is also a single speed but has a little sportier look and feel than the unit from Brooklyn Cruiser. Linus describes it is a elegant bicycle in its purest form. Stripped down, clean and profile inspired by the bikes of days gone by. I really like that and I agree with their description. It certainly has clean and sharp minimalistic lines.

The internet is great for research and narrowing the search, but nothing beats a test ride to determine fit and comfort and making the final decision. While the larger shops didn't have what I was looking for, I did manage to discover a boutique shop in Calgary that carries both the Brooklyn Cruiser and Linus brands. Bike Bike is a great shop for anything that you might need for urban riding.

I recommend BikeBike in Calgary for Dutch bikes and anything related to commuting. They have a great selection and the staff is fantastic.




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